Level: Intermediate to Advanced IELTS Candidates
Many students rush into writing their essay, thinking the quicker they start, the more they’ll finish. But let me tell you something: success in IELTS writing doesn’t begin with your pen — it begins with your plan.
Today, I’m going to walk you through a step-by-step planning strategy. This is the exact approach used by students who score Band 7, 8, or even 9. It’s based on official guidance from the British Council, and top IELTS educators.
Let’s begin with the first and most critical step: understanding the question.
Step 1: Understand the question (1–2 minutes)
Before anything else, you must understand what the question is really asking. This means analyzing the type of question you’re dealing with and identifying the keywords.
There are five common types of IELTS essays:
- Opinion essays – You’re asked whether you agree or disagree.
- Discussion essays – You discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Problem-solution essays – You describe a problem and offer solutions.
- Advantages and disadvantages essays – You present pros and cons.
- Two-part questions – These have two distinct questions to answer.
Now, look at the question carefully. Underline key terms. Ask yourself:
“What am I being asked to do?” “What kind of response is required?”
If you misunderstand the type, you’ll write off-topic — and that’s a major penalty in the exam.
Step 2: Decide your position (1 minute)
Once you understand the question, the next step is to decide your position.
For opinion or discussion questions, you need to make it clear:
- Do you agree or disagree?
- Do you lean more to one side?
Your position should be clear from the start, because this is the foundation for your thesis statement.
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is the final sentence of your introduction. It tells the examiner what your opinion is or what you will do in the essay.
Let me give you some examples.
If the question is:
“Some people believe children should be taught how to grow food at school. Do you agree or disagree?”
Your thesis could be:
This essay strongly agrees that children should learn food cultivation at school, as it promotes responsibility and sustainability.
If it’s a discussion question:
“Some people think university education should be free. Others believe students should pay fees. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”
Your thesis could be:
This essay will examine both sides of the debate before concluding that publicly funded education benefits society more.
Remember: Your thesis should directly answer the question and set up the body paragraphs.
Step 3: Brainstorm ideas (3 minutes)
Now comes the creative part — generating strong, relevant ideas.
Think of 2 or 3 key arguments that support your position. Don’t just write down anything. You need ideas that are:
- Clear
- Logical
- Easy to explain
- Possible to support with real or hypothetical examples
Let’s take this topic:
“School children should learn how to grow food.”
What ideas could we use?
- Responsibility & environmental awareness – Growing food teaches care, patience, and respect for nature.
- Healthy eating habits – Kids understand where food comes from and are less likely to waste it.
- (Optional) Self-sufficiency – Prepares them for sustainable living.
Write down quick notes for each point. No full sentences. Just keywords. This is your idea map.
Step 4: Organize into paragraphs (2–3 minutes)
Now you’ve got ideas — time to organize them into a clear essay structure. Stick to a 4-paragraph model, which is the safest and most effective for IELTS.
Here’s the layout:
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
- Paraphrase the question
- Write your thesis statement
Paragraph 2 – Body 1
- State your first main idea
- Explain it
- Give an example
Paragraph 3 – Body 2
- State your second idea
- Explain it
- Give an example
Paragraph 4 – Conclusion
- Summarize your main points
- Restate your opinion
Each paragraph should be 4–5 sentences, focused on one single idea.
Example Body Paragraph:
Teaching children to grow food develops responsibility. When students nurture plants, they learn discipline and consistency. For instance, school gardening programs in Australia have shown improvements in attendance and student focus.
Keep your paragraphs balanced in length and clear in logic.
Step 5: Plan transitions
Transitions are like bridges between your ideas. Without them, your writing feels disconnected.
Here are some of the best linking words for IELTS:
- To start: Firstly, To begin with
- To add ideas: Moreover, In addition, Furthermore
- To contrast: However, On the other hand
- To show cause/effect: As a result, Therefore
- To conclude: In conclusion, To summarize
Avoid repetition — don’t keep saying “also” or “because” every time. Use variety.
Use linking words naturally and only where they make sense — don’t force them.
Pro tips for effective essay planning
Let’s wrap up with a few gold nuggets that Band 8+ students swear by:
- Plan before you write – Even 5 minutes of planning saves 15 minutes of rewriting.
- Stick to 2 main ideas – Don’t overcrowd your essay.
- Be specific – General ideas don’t impress examiners.
- Use real or logical examples – You don’t need statistics, just make sense.
- Don’t memorize templates – Examiners know them and penalize formulaic writing.
- Practice under timed conditions – Simulate test pressure.
To write a powerful IELTS essay, your success depends less on your grammar and more on your structure and clarity of thought. Planning is not optional — it’s the backbone of great writing.
So next time you’re about to write, remember:
- Understand the question
- Decide your position
- Brainstorm logical ideas
- Organize them into paragraphs
- Use transitions wisely
With this method, you’ll be better prepared, more confident, and ready to impress the examiner.
Thank you — and now it’s time to put this into practice!
Mishal Iftikhar
Learning & Development Specialist
CEO at LEAP